Cymbopogon citratus (DC.) Staph: chemical composition, antimicrobial and antioxidant activities, use in medicinal and cosmetic purpose

Abstract

The genus Cymbopogon (Greek words 'kymbe' meaning boat and 'pogon' meaning beard), commonly known as lemongrass, belongs to the Poaceae family. It comprises a large number species, but only two have economic importance as cultivated plants: C. citratus and C. flexuosus. However, C. citratus is more resistant to drought and low temperatures and because of that can be cultivated over large areas therefore it is commercially more important. C. citratus leaves are widely used as a lemon flavor ingredient in herbal teas, prepared either by decoction or infusion, or in finished herbal products such as capsules, tablets and creams. Even though essential oils are known for being used for fragrance and as an important ingredient in Asian cuisine, they are also used in other industries (pharmaceutical and cosmetic) due to their bioactive compounds that show various therapeutic effects. The chemical composition of C. citratus essential oil varies widely depending on genetic diversity, habitat and agronomic treatment of the culture, as well as on the part of the plant, maturity stage and extraction method. However, the essential oil of C. citratus mainly consists of the citral, which is a mixture of two isomeric acyclic monoterpene aldehides: geranial (trans-citral) and neral (cis-citral). C. citratus possesses good antibacterial activity, it could be used as alternative treatment for enteric fever, to cure infectious diseases related to the respiratory system, as well as for oral hygiene, it helps by removing bacteria from the oral cavity and prevents teeth and gum diseases such as peridontitis, plaque and gingivitis. Furthermore, C. citratus showed high contents of total phenolic and total flavonoids, as well as high free radical scavenging capacity with potential as an antioxidant. C. citratus shows good antiinflamatory, anti-diabetic, hypolipidemic, renoprotective and cardioprotective, as well as anticancer activities. Apart from this, C. citratus possesses vasorelaxant, sedative and antitusive potential. Furthermore, the compound citral is used in perfume industry as well as for cleaning wounds and treatment of skin diseases in forms of gels, or functional paper microencapsulated with essential oil, which can be used for hand hygiene.